Calliope River Historical Village facts for kids
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The Calliope River Historical Village is a special outdoor museum. It's located right next to the Calliope River in River Ranch, Queensland, Australia. This village is managed by the Port Curtis Historical Society. It's a place where you can explore old buildings and see items that show what life was like a long time ago in the area.
Contents
How the Village Started
A Celebration Leads to History
In 1979, the Shire of Calliope celebrated its 100th birthday! During these celebrations, many old and important items were collected. This collection inspired people to create the Port Curtis Historical Society.
Finding a Home for History
Around that time, a new bridge was being built for the Bruce Highway over the Calliope River. When the highway moved to the new bridge, some land became available. The local council thought this land would be perfect for a historical village.
Opening the Doors
After some work to prepare the site, the village officially opened in 1983. The very first building to arrive was the Ambrose railway station.
What You Can See at the Village
Historic Buildings and Exhibits
The museum has many old buildings from the local area. These buildings were carefully moved to the historical village. Inside many of them, you can find exhibits that show what everyday life was like. There are also displays about the history of railways.
Raglan Memorial Hall
The Raglan Memorial Hall was built around 1932. It was a popular place for dances until 1990. After that, it wasn't used for a while. In March 2002, the hall was moved to the village. The mayor of Calliope Shire, George Creed, officially reopened it.
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Yarwun Railway Station
The Yarwun railway station was also moved to the village. It reopened in June 2003. Today, it serves as the ticket office and a small shop, or kiosk.
Old Railway Carriage
A wooden railway carriage, known as No. 1353, was built in Ipswich in the early 1940s. This carriage traveled on many routes, including the famous Sunshine Mail. The Sunshine Mail ran from Brisbane all the way to Cairns. Later, the Sunlander train took its place in the 1960s.
This carriage was no longer needed for passengers. So, Queensland Rail transported it to the village on June 1, 1989. Now, it's used as a helpful tourist information center.
Special Survey Monument
Right outside the village entrance, you'll find a special monument. It's one of the Q150 historical survey markers. These markers were placed by the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute in 2009. This particular monument remembers Francis Peter MacCabe. He was the first surveyor of Gladstone. MacCabe was sent by the Government of New South Wales in 1853 to survey the Port Curtis area and help set up a new settlement.
